what is connecticut known for?

Connecticut is a special East Coast state that's often forgotten about, but that should really be considered a hidden gem. While Vermont is known for it's skiing and maple syrup, Rhode Island for its beautiful beaches, New Hampshire for its hiking, and Massachusetts for the city of Boston, many think of Connecticut as a boring state full of Ivy-league kids in preppy polos. But as a Connecticut native and New England lover, I'm here to tell you that us Connecticuters have a LOT more to offer you. If you're looking for what Connecticut is known for and what makes it a special place to visit, you've come to the right place. Below I've outlined my 12 favorite things about CT, and the best part is you can easily visit as many of the places of you want with the help of an affordable rental car.

1. New Haven-Style Apizza

Oh, you think New York pizza is the best? Or maybe Chicago's deep dish? Well, Connecticut pizza might just give you a run for your money. Growing up in Connecticut, I never realized how amazing New Haven pizza is until I started traveling. Then, I started hearing about New Haven, CT's reputation for being the "Pizza Capital of the United States". New Haven has so many famous pizzerias that it would make your head spin. From Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana to Sally's Apizza and Modern Apizza, if you've visiting Connecticut you need to start at one of these iconic pizzerias in the city's Little Italy. Many of these traditional pizzerias have been around for almost a century, perfecting their craft and serving visitors with AMAZING New Haven-style, coal-fired thin crust apizza (super similar to classic coal-fired Neapolitan pizza). I can almost guarantee that if you're a pizza lover, you'll be glad you tried Connecticut pizza.

2. Beautiful Beaches Along Long Island Sound

Connecticut has 23 state beaches (including lake beaches) and each has its own unique features. Hammonasset Beach State Park is considered the prettiest and most popular beach in CT, known for being the longest shoreline park, having a great boardwalk, and being an excellent spot for camping. There's also Ocean Beach Park, a perfect beach to visit with family or friends because of the white sand, pool, waterslides, and mini golf. Some other notable beaches include:

3. Mystic Seaport and Aquarium

Mystic is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in Connecticut with a TON of great restaurants and attractions. A few spots that really draw visitors include Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport. The aquarium covers 11 acres with marine mammals, fish, invertebrates, and reptile exhibits. Mystic Seaport, on the other hand, is the largest maritime museum in the United States, featuring 500 historic watercrafts, including four National Historic Landmark vessels. This makes Mystic a great day trip that individuals of all ages can enjoy. If you do end up going to Mystic Aquarium or Mystic Seaport though, make sure to stop by Red 36 or Bravo Bravo for a bite! These are some of my personal favorite spots and they're highly rated in the area.

Click here to purchase a ticket in advance for Mystic Seaport so you don't have to wait in line!

4. Ivy-League schools like Yale University

Connecticut is known for having some of the best educational facilities across the United States, and there's good reason for that. We have both highly-rated private schools like The Hotchkiss School and Choate Rosemary Hall and the famous Ivy-League Yale University. If you're looking to learn more, I would definitely advise stopping in New Haven and walking around Yale University. Yale offers specialized tours for general visitors and high school students. As a general visitor, a Yale College student will take you around the campus and provide a glimpse into the school's history and architecture. According to Yale's website, the tour also includes the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library, Yale’s largest, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Despite the fact that I live in Connecticut and have walked around Yale's campus plenty of times when visiting New Haven, even I would be interested in a tour of one of the most famous schools in America! They also have a pretty cheap haunted ghost tour around Yale for paranormal lovers.

If you LOVE amusement parks and/or waterparks, then Lake Compounce is the place for you. Growing up I always loved visiting Lake Compounce, especially the waterpark, but I had no idea that it's considered America's oldest amusement park until I started doing a little research! This is a unique spot in Connecticut because while there are tons of amusement rides, waterslides, games, and food vendors (just like you'd expect at any other park), Lake Compounce also sits on a lake people can swim in. There's so much variety that it's impossible to not have fun here.

6. Fall Foliage & Scenic Drives

New England has the most beautiful fall in the country, and that's just a fact. We have a decently long autumn where leaves change from a bright summer green to hues of red, orange, yellow and brown and it makes drives from the end of September to the start of November just stunning. Some of the best ways to enjoy the fall foliage in Connecticut include taking a boat ride on the Connecticut River, going on a sunrise/sunset hot air balloon ride, or simply driving through the backroads in the shoreline town of your choice.

7. Steamed Cheeseburgers (Which Were Invented in Meriden, CT)

Calling all red meat lovers! The steamed cheeseburger was invented in Middletown, CT at a restaurant called Jack's Lunch in the 1920s or 1930s. Despite the fact that Jack's Lunch no longer exists, the legacy of the steamed cheeseburger lives on with visitors still getting to experience the authentic steamed cheeseburger at joints like Ted's Restaurant or K LaMay's Steamed Cheeseburgers in Meriden, CT.

8. The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat are two of my favorite attractions in Connecticut. This company does a great job of putting on seasonal events every year for locals and tourists to look forward to, and since the company has been around since 1871, everything has a vintage feel. Some of the most popular steam train events include the Valentine's Day dinner train rides, murder mystery dinner/train experience, and the North Pole Express. I've done the Valentine's Day dinner train and I purchased it as a gift for my parents as well because we loved it so much, and my family does the North Pole Express every year with my little brother. I am DYING to do the murder mystery dinner experience though. While tickets and the experiences are an investment, it's such a memorable thing to do.

9. Quaint Coastal Towns

Connecticut has the cutest little beach towns along the coast like Old Saybrook, Madison, Stonington, and East Lyme. Many of these towns have downtown stores, restaurants, and ice cream shops so that you can make a half day or full day trip out of exploring each one. On a warm night, each of these areas also give off a New England summer type of vibe, which visitors love to experience.

10. Connecticut Wine & Beer Trails

The Connecticut Wine Trail has 22 stops and there's a "Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries" with 40 participating wineries. The Connecticut Beer Trail has even MORE than that with over 70 breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars on the list. Many of these locations have in-house food for purchase or food trucks and amazing views. Some of my favorite local stops on the CT Wine Trail (because I'm a wine lover) include Hawk Ridge Vineyard, Chamard Vineyards, Brignole Vineyards, and Crystal Ridge Winery. Highly rated beer spots include Willimantic Brewing Company, Foolproof Brewing Company, Stony Creek Brewery, and Two Roads Brewing Company.

11. Classic New England Country Fairs

Connecticut has some of the best fairs in New England, and I stand by that statement all day long! From the Berlin Fair (my hometown) to the Durham Fair and the Bethlehem Fair, September and October are fantastic months to come and experience a bunch of Connecticut's finest and oldest fairs. Each fair has exceptional fair food, livestock, local vendors, and competition exhibits for you to enjoy, and there are rides for your kids to go on.

12. EXCEPTIONAL SEAFOOD

You can't come to Connecticut without trying seafood by the shore. We're known for for our fresh, locally caught oysters, clams, and warm buttered lobster rolls so come on down to Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill in New Haven, Lenny & Joe's in Madison, Lobster Landing in Clinton or Rocky's Aqua on the Water in Clinton and enjoy some popular seafood dishes.

Start Planning Your Connecticut Getaway

Whether you’re a foodie chasing the best pizza, a beach lover craving some sun, or a history buff ready to explore New England roots, Connecticut has something for everyone. If you’re feeling inspired, don’t stop here — scroll down to explore more Connecticut travel guides, hidden gems, and local adventures I’ve personally experienced. I'm a New England girlie from Connecticut, so who better to tell you about all the spots than me! And if you love discovering underrated destinations, be sure to subscribe to get new blog posts, weekend itineraries, and real-life travel tips delivered straight to your inbox!